Vehicle-axle and box.



No. 65l,225. Patented lune 5, I900.

J. G. ANDERSON.

VEHICLE AXLE AND BO'X.

(Application filed Dec. 26, 1899.) (No Model.)

IN VENTOH ed to contain the lubricant, the'said oil-cham- UNITED STAT-ES JOHN GARY ANDERSON, OF ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA.

VEHICLE-AXLE AND BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 651,225, dated June 5, 1900.

Application filed December 26,1899. Serial No. 741,605. No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN GARY ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Rock Hill, in the county of York and State of South Carolina, have invented a new and Improved Vehicle-Axle and Box, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved vehicle-axle and box which is simple and durable in construction, completely dust and sand proof, and arranged to run a long time without requiring reoiling and to prevent leakage and waste of the oil from the oil-chamber.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

. A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the axle. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the axle and boxin position. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the same on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a sectional side elevation of a modified form of the improvement.

The axle A is provided at each end with a spindle B, fitting into a box 0 and having a head D between the spindle and the axle proper, the said head abutting against washers E and E, arranged in the inner end of the box 0, as is plainly indicated in Fig. 2, so as to render the axle dust-proof at this end and to prevent oil from passing out from the spindle when the device is in use. The spindle B is formed at the inner end with an enlargement B, and at the outer end of the spindle B is formed a reduced portion B partlysurrounded by an oil-chamber F,adaptber being preferably formed by boring the outer portion of the box 0, as is indicated in Fig. 2, or by reducing the part B to such an extent as to form the oil-chamber without boring the box C, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 4. The outer wall of this oil-chamber F is formed in either case by into which fits closely the reduced end B of the spindle, so that the lubricant is not liable to leak out of the oil-chamber at this end. To positively prevent leakage, however, a washer G is placed against the outer face of the outer wall of the chamber F, and this washer is engaged by a nut H, screwing onto the threaded end B of the spindle, a flange H on the nut extending externally over the outer end of the box 0 to prevent dust, sand,. and the like from working to the inside of the box and spindle.

On top of tbespindle B, between the enlargement B and the reduced portion B is arranged a longitudinally extending oilgroove B and an oil-groove B is formed on the bottom of the spindle, the outer end of the groove opening into the oil-chamber in contradistinction to the oil-groove B which terminates a distance from the oil-chamber.

When the device is in use and the oil-chamber is filled with lubricant, the oil enters the groove 13", which opens at one end into the oil-chamber, and the revolution of the box 0 carries the oil up to the groove B and pumps the oil out of the upper groove 13 and passes it around the spindle, so as to properly lubricate the same. The lubricant finally reaches the lower oil-groove B to flow back into the oil-chamber F, from which escape of the lubricant by way of the nut is impossible, owing to the outer wall of the oil-chamber F fitting close upon the reduced portion B of the spindle. Consequently the oil works back by the revolving of the box 0 into the upper oilgroove B to be again distributed from the latter over the entire surface of the spindle. As the oil cannot work out at the inner end of the spindle, it will be seen that the lubricant, once supplied to the device, will remain therein until it is completely used up.

By forming the oil-chamber around the reduced portion of the spindle in the manner described the outer face of the outer wall of said chamber presents a large bearing-surface for the Washer G, and consequently said washer lasts a long time.

In case the oil is used up and it is desired to refill the chamber F with the lubricant it is only necessary to move the wheel and its box 0 outwardly a short distance until the chainber F becomes free from the outer threaded an annular flange or a bridge having a bore reduced outer end, the outer portion of the' reduced end being threaded, the said spindle being formed with a longitudinal oil-groove at the bottom and a longitudinal oil'groove at the top, and a box into which fits the said spindle, the outer end of the box having an inwardly-extending flange for engagement with the smooth portion of the reduced end, a distance from the inner end thereof, to form an oil-chamber around the spindle, the end of the longitudinal groove at the bottom of the spindle opening into the oil-chamber, for the purpose set forth.

2. A vehicle-axle having a spindle formed with a longitudinal oil-groove at the top and a longitudinal oil-groove at the bottom, and a box for the spindle having an internal annular groove near its outer end forming a chamber for containing lubricant, the bottom oil-groove openinginto the said chamber, sub stantially as described. 1

3. A vehicle-axle having a spindle with a reduced outer end, the outer portion of the reduced end being threaded, the said spindle 1 being formed with a longitudinal oil-groove at the top, and a longitudinal oil-groove at the bottom, a box for the spindle having an internal annular groove near its outer end forming an oil-chamber surrounding the inner smooth part of the reduced end of the spindle, the said bottom oil-groove of the spindle opening into the said oil-chamber, the outer wall of the oil-chamber having a bore closely fitting the smooth portion of said reduced end of the spindle, a washer resting against the outer face of said wall, and a nut screwing on the extreme outer threaded end of the spindle, and against said washer, the said nut having a flange extending over the outer end of the box substantially as shown and described.

4. A vehicle-axle having a spindle with a longitudinal oil-groove at the top, the groove terminating between the ends of the spindle, and a longitudinal bottom oil-groove at the outer end of the spindle, a box fitting the spindle and cored near its outer end to form with the spindle an oil-chamber, the outer end of the bottom oil-groove opening into said chamber, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN GARY ANDERSON.

\Vitnesses:

J. Born OnEIeHToN, WADE B. Ronnnv. 

